How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 69

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 69

* * *

Lahenna and Glorian casually took their seats, lifting their teacups to savor the aroma.

Their natural demeanor left me momentarily stunned, and Lahenna gestured with her eyes.

“I made room because you asked, so what are you doing?”

“…Who knew it would be this kind of meeting?”

I cleared my throat and sat next to Lahenna, facing Glorian.

Warmth radiated from the teacup as I held it.

I suddenly wondered, isn’t this all an illusion? Can I even drink this tea?

“You eat and drink even in dreams, so why would you call it an illusion?”

Lahenna seemed to read my mind as she spoke.

I shrugged and took a sip from the teacup.

As I savored the aroma, Glorian spoke to Lahenna first.

“So, that human is still alive, and you and this human came here to fulfill the task that woman entrusted to you?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“What exactly is that task?”

“I don’t know either.”

“You’re telling me that now…”

“The answer isn’t with me, Glorian. The human in front of you has it.”

Glorian’s gaze shifted to me.

Meeting her white, pupil-less eyes, I felt a strange sense of familiarity. Where had I seen that before, some ninja anime?

Enough with the idle thoughts.

This is a hard-won opportunity. Wasn’t I running all the way from the capital to find this out?

I took a short, deep breath and slowly opened my mouth.

“Before I tell you the details, please take a look at this first.”

Thump!

I took out the faded black spirit stone from my pocket and placed it on the table.

At the same time, I glanced at Glorian’s face.

At first, she looked as if she was wondering what this rock was, but soon she bit her lip tightly. I was worried she might tear it, she was biting so hard.

“……”

Glorian silently held the spirit stone and closed her eyes for a moment.

Minutes passed like an hour, and when Glorian opened her eyes again, a blue aura was flowing from them.

“Who is it?”

A low but intense anger was palpable.

By the way, why is she using honorifics with Lahenna but speaking so casually to me?

“Who committed such a heinous act?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then did you just pick this up somewhere?”

“That’s the wrong question.”

“Wrong?”

“I did encounter the one who seeks this. But I don’t know. Not their name, their identity, or their whereabouts.”

“Then why did you bring this here?”

“I thought that digging into it might reveal some clues. When it comes to spirits, there’s no one like the elves.”

At my words, Glorian slowly nodded. Lahenna, who had been watching quietly, clicked her tongue.

“From what I hear, it seems a spirit is sealed in that stone.”

“Yes.”

“It’s certainly a monstrous act.”

After a moment of thought, Glorian carefully held the spirit stone and opened her mouth.

“So, you brought this here, which could be a clue, to find the culprit?”

“To put it simply.”

“What kind of people are they to you?”

“It’s a human matter.”

Glorian paused for a moment after I drew the line, then nodded.

“Right. That’s a story that has nothing to do with me. Anyway, there’s no reason not to help. No matter what kind of humans they are, they certainly deserve to die.”

“Is there a way?”

“If it can be revived.”

Who? The spirit?

“If that’s possible, we can hear the story from the spirit.”

“All the memories?”

“Yes.”

“That would simplify things.”

“But it’s not easy.”

“What do you mean, not easy…”

“If it were hundreds of years ago, it wouldn’t be difficult at all. But the situation is different now. Because of you humans, our territory has shrunk, and our energy, which should be abundant, has also weakened.”

I couldn’t help but feel like I was being blamed.

“We didn’t come here to argue about who’s at fault. Can you do it or not?”

“You’re quite audacious. Yes, there is a way.”

“A way?”

“We can use the power of the Elven Tree.”

Elven Tree.

The name of the mystical tree firmly rooted in the center of the Great Forest, forming the elves’ domain and serving as its foundation, was mentioned.

“But there must be a reason why you said it’s not easy.”

“To use the power of the Elven Tree, all the elders must unanimously agree.”

“Are you saying there’s someone who opposes it?”

“There’s someone who can’t oppose or agree.”

“Can’t do either?”

“Because they’re missing.”

“Missing? Are they outside the Great Forest?”

“That’s not it. It’s against the rules. It’s certain they’re inside the Great Forest.”

“They’re missing inside the Great Forest?”

“Yes. You could say it’s close to being reclusive.”

“To use the power of the Elven Tree, their consent is needed. But you can’t find them?”

“You understand.”

“Why can’t you find them? Even if they’re reclusive, there should be a communication network for emergencies, right?”

Just when I was thinking, what kind of elf is that, Lahenna, who had been listening quietly, chuckled.

“Lordaen, is it?”

“…That’s right.”

“That eccentric temperament hasn’t changed even after hundreds of years.”

“Do you know him?”

I squeezed in a question, and Lahenna nodded.

“Of course, I know him. When that guy came to battle, both we and the elves were on alert.”

Not just the druids, but the elves too?

“Why?”

“Because he’s crazy.”

“……What do you mean?”

“Just like that. Lordaen lost his mind when he lost his wife in the war with humans. After that, Lordaen attacked everyone, regardless of friend or foe, when he went into battle. We called him Lordaen the Madman after seeing that.”

“You send such a crazy elf to war?”

“The effect was certain. If we sent him to a battlefield where we were sure to lose, he would miraculously turn the tide and bring victory. How could we not use him?”

Glorian gave a bitter smile at Lahenna’s words.

“Even if we concede that it was during the war, isn’t it strange that he’s still holding the position of elder?”

“Lordaen is a name that has always been steadfast throughout history. Removing that name is impossible. Besides, Lordaen’s rightful successor is currently the only one left, so there’s no choice.”

Glorian tapped the table after finishing her words bitterly.

“Reviving the spirit comes after finding him.”

“Are you telling me to find him?”

“If time is pressing, you’ll have to take action yourself.”

“Didn’t you say you would definitely find him and hold him accountable?”

“Even if he’s not in his right mind, Lordaen won’t forget his duty. He’ll show his face once every few years.”

“That’s too late.”

“That’s why I said to find him yourself if time is pressing.”

Perhaps because of her long lifespan, Glorian spoke as if a few years were nothing.

‘A few years? Does she think I’m that free?’

There’s no choice. It seems finding him has become a foregone conclusion, so what I need to prepare for is what comes next.

“Lahenna, can you help me?”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“Wasn’t my job to guide you to the Great Forest and arrange a meeting with the elder in the first place?”

“Are you going to be so petty?”

“Watch your mouth. Did I come here as your subordinate? Besides, this is my hometown that I’ve found after a long time. I have places to visit.”

Do that much on your own.

I had no choice but to close my mouth at Lahenna’s words, which contained such a nuance.

Come to think of it, Lahenna had taken care of most of the work from the moment I first entered the Great Forest until I headed here.

It’s true that it would be too shameless to ask for more than this, so there’s no helping it.

‘I have no choice.’

Excluding Lahenna, huh?

I quickly reorganized my plans in my head and looked at Glorian.

“Can you allow me to operate based in the Elven Forest?”

“The matter of the spirit stone is also our business.”

“Please assign an elf to guide me. That way, if I happen to encounter Lordaen, they can explain the situation.”

“Good.”

Things have become strange, but it’s not like it’s been greatly distorted. Wasn’t I thinking of training using the abundant energy of the Great Forest anyway?

‘Right. Let’s think of it as training in parallel. There’s no need to act too hastily.’

After all, things in the world don’t always go according to plan. As long as we reach Seoul, it’s fine to go around, so we just need to patch things up and move forward.

“Then good. I’ll go and get his permission and come back.”

“Then we’ll make sure to be fully prepared in the meantime.”

“Understood.”

“In addition.”

Glorian narrowed her eyes and spat out the words.

“If the culprit is revealed, promise me that you will definitely make them pay for their sins.”

“I promise.”

Lahenna, who was listening next to me, chuckled at my words.

“Do you know what an elf’s promise means to answer so easily?”

Meaning? A promise is a promise, is there another meaning?

Lahenna sighed softly, as if she knew I would make such an expression.

“An elf’s promise doesn’t gloss over things with words like ‘I tried’ or ‘I did my best.’ It’s a kind of oath you make with your life on the line. If you don’t fulfill it, you’ll become the irreconcilable enemy of all the elves on this continent. You won’t be able to sleep peacefully for a single day.”

The words were delivered calmly, but I took a sip of the half-cooled tea in one gulp at the weight that was by no means light.

* * *

After the conversation with Glorian, the group, including me, entered the Elven Forest surrounded by elves.

It was a space that had not allowed human footsteps even once since hundreds of years ago.

Roos kept looking around at the elves, drooling over their beauty, and Illia admired the endlessly lined ancient trees and the nature-friendly houses built between them.

On the other hand, Fleta, who had a calm face but couldn’t hide her curiosity, approached me.

“What happened earlier? I thought you had been hit by some kind of trick because you collapsed.”

Earlier?

Ah, she’s talking about the meeting with Glorian in Lahenna’s spell.

“It’s nothing. I just had a dream for a while.”

“A dream?”

“Yeah. A dream.”

“Another secret?”

“Secrets are charm.”

“Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

Tch, Fleta clicked her tongue and then covered her mouth and spoke softly.

“By the way, I feel like I’ve become a circus monkey.”

As she said.

It seemed like every elf residing in the Elven Forest had come out.

I could feel the gazes staring at us as if we were strange animals.

“It’s true. Their ears are so short.”

“Is that a human? Their appearances are really all different.”

How long did we walk while listening to the not-so-pleasant whispers?

A log house located on a fairly quiet flat ground appeared.

As soon as we entered, I felt a chilling atmosphere because human warmth hadn’t touched it. Every time Illia and Roos touched the furniture, dust flew everywhere.

After roughly cleaning up like that.

Everyone except Lahenna, who had gone to look around her hometown after a long time, took their seats and watched me.

“Thank you for coming all the way here. But it’s not over here. There’s still work left for us to do.”

Roos nodded firmly with a face that said she was confident in anything.

“What do you mean by work to do?”

“There are two main things.”

“Two things?”

“Before I explain, let me ask you first. Didn’t you feel something while entering the Elven Forest?”

At my question, Fleta, Roos, and Illia nodded at the same time.

“Yes, the mana is abundant.”

“It feels like swimming in a sea of mana.”

“Is it just abundant? It was a very high purity mana that I have never felt anywhere else. It’s the perfect place for a magician [a magic user].”

I nodded at everyone’s answers.

“Right. So, the first goal is to improve your skills, that is, training. I guarantee it. No matter where you look on this continent, there is no place like the Elven Forest. If you don’t do it here, where will you do it?”

At my words, Roos and Illia nodded with firm faces. I felt proud of their motivated appearance.

“We have to make blisters on our hands.”

“I agree.”

Yes. You have to get stronger so that I can start anything in the future.

“I understand the first one. Then what’s the second one?”

At Roos’s question, I opened my mouth, trying to suppress the rising annoyance.

“Secondly, we have to find a person, no, an elf.”

“You have to find an elf?”

“An elf ran away from home.”

“Ran away from home?”

“Yeah, ran away from home. I got stuck with a troublesome job.”

Everyone except me had a puzzled look on their faces at the sudden story.

“Well, anyway, knowing that…”

That’s when I was about to end the story.

[Wait a minute.]

Aphen suddenly spoke to me. I almost cursed at the voice that suddenly rang in my head, but I barely managed to hold it in.

“Excuse me for a moment, I’m going to the bathroom.”

I made an excuse and went outside the building and opened my mouth lowly.

“How many times have I told you to turn on the blinker before coming in?”

[What’s a blinker? Anyway, I suddenly remembered it when I came here, but let me ask you a favor.]

“A favor?”

[Yeah.]

“Let me hear it.”

I looked around. After confirming that there was definitely no one, I focused on Aphen again.

[There’s a place I want to go.]

“A place to go?”

[It’s a place my mom visits every year in the Great Forest. But the recent situation isn’t good. So, she said she’s been sad because she hasn’t been able to visit for several years. Since we came here anyway, let’s go there instead! Wouldn’t Mom be happy then?]

“Do you know where that is?”

[I don’t know!]

“Are you kidding me?”

[So, you have to find it!]

“……”

[If you find it and tell Mom later, she’ll definitely be very happy. So, please help me! You’ve received a lot from my mom, so are you going to be stingy?]

I did receive it. An impossible hell difficulty quest to save the kingdom.

As I thought about it, my annoyance flared up. Should I throw this into the furnace?

I barely suppressed the momentary annoyance with a sigh.

‘Right. She’s helped me a lot so far.’

Aphen has been a great help so far without me knowing. It wouldn’t be bad to be generous for once.

Of course, a little curiosity also contributed to it.

What is the place that the great magician Kerwyn Aphen visits every year?

“I’ll help you on the premise that it doesn’t greatly disrupt my schedule.”

[Okay!]

“So. Where is the place that Kerwyn visits every year?”

[I don’t know. I just heard it was a beautiful place.]

Are you kidding me.

My annoyance soared at Aphen’s words that she didn’t know.

“What, is it a place you went to see the scenery?”

[No. I heard it was a place where her friend is…….]

“Friend? If they’re in the Great Forest, are they an elf?”

[No. I heard it was a human friend?]

Kerwyn’s human friend?

There is no one alive among the people who lived in the same era as Kerwyn. Then that friend must have died of old age, so why visit the Great Forest every year to meet such a friend?

It didn’t make sense. How do you meet someone who isn’t alive? It’s not like you’re going to see a corpse. Even in the Great Forest full of elves…….

‘Wait.’

You go to meet a dead friend?

Are you going to the grave to honor the spirit?

A human friend who was deeply connected enough for Kerwyn to visit every year without fail and is sleeping in the Great Forest.

I felt like something was booming in my head.

‘Could it be?’

A hollow laugh escaped.

‘Is that tomb here?’